Anyone in the Isle of Man who is concerned about their hearing is being urged to take a simple test which will show if any treatment is needed.

It's taken over the telephone and determines if hearing is within the normal range for the age of the person concerned.

There are around 13,000 people on the Island who are affected by hearing loss, and the majority of those are over 50.

However, young people who listen to their i-pods at loud levels are also at risk of ear damage.

There will be a stand in the Strand Shopping Centre tomorrow, where people will be able to learn about a form of sign language, as Julie Smith of the Manx Deaf Society explains (audio file attached):

(Image: A hearing aid, from buzzle.com).